After-hours call in a primary care nursing practice.

This paper describes the recorded concerns of clients and the management activity of Master's prepared nurse providers in an urban, ambulatory, university affiliated primary care nursing practice during after-hours call. Retrospective record review was used to collect data. Pain was the most common client concern, and the abdomen the most frequently identified pain site. The majority of concerns expressed by clients were minor health problems appropriate for telephone management. The most frequent interventions used were nursing measures such as comfort, supported and reassurance. Finally, the nurse providers in this group practice managed the majority of calls with nursing interventions.